Bed-bottom



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A. I'- MILLER.-

" 'BED BOTTOM.

. 290,087. Patented Dec. 11,:1883,

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BED 'BOTTIOM.

Patented Dec. 11,1883

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UNITED STATES ALBERT, F. MILLER, on

PATENT OFFICE.

CHICAGO, AssIGNoR TO SANFORDS. BURR, on WINETKA, ILLINOIS.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,087, dated'December11, 1883,

Application filed July 13, 1883. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it'known that I, ALBERT F. MILLER, of Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed-Bottoms for FoldingBedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to that part of a bedstead known as thebed-bottom, upon which the mattress and bedding rest, and has beendesigned with particular reference to the requirements of foldingbedsteads, in which connection I have illustrated it in the drawingsaccompanying this specification. I combine with the bed-frame of afolding bed side suspension-ropes which are secured to the head and footof the frame, as hereinafter described, so as to be drawn taut when thebed-frame is unfolded, and mattress supporting springs supported bystirrups or equivalent means carried by and preferably suspended fromsaid side suspension-ropes. These springs maybe placed throughout thewhole of the space between the side suspension-ropes; but in practice itwill be found sufficient to use them only for the upper part of the'bed-bottomsay as far down as the point where the knees of the occupantwill come when he is lying downand the rest of the bed-bottom can beformed of slats resting on or attached to'and extending across betweenthe side suspension-ropes. I prefer to arrange the springsupportingstirrups like the slats just referred to-that is to say, to have themextend transversely of the bed-bottom, so as to preserve unimpaired theflexibility or pliability of the bed-bottom in a longitudinal sense,with a view to adapt it for use in a folding bed, and to permit it to befolded up with the folding bed-frame.

The accompanying drawings, as before stated, represent the applicationof my invention, in the form which I now prefer, to a folding bedstead.

Figure l is a longitudinal vertical central section of the bedsteadopen. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a plan, ofthe same.

The bedstead shown in the drawings comprises a bed-frame composed of twoparts, A

'13, adapted first to fold over onto itself, and

then to be turned up into a case, 0. For this purpose the two sectionsare hinged together springs E, spring-supporting stirrups F, and

slats G. The ropes D are wire ropes, preferably, and are not extensiblelengthwise. They form the side edges of the bed-bottom, and are securedat their ends to the head-board and foot-board of thebed-frame. Theymay, if desired, be'combined with means for tightening them. The pointsat which they are secured are in a plane a little below the hinge-pointa of the bed-frame sections A B, so that when the bed-frame is unfoldedthe tension of the ropes will tend to hold it open.

From the side rope, D, are suspended the spring-supporting stirrups F,which in this instance consist of slats d, connected at their ends totheropes D by metal hangers e, and these stirrups extend transversely ofthe bedbottom, so that thelatter will be yielding and pliable when theropes are off tension, thus "permitting it to be folded up along withthe mattress and bedding when the bedstead is folded up.

Upon the stirrups are placed springs E, of

any suitable or usual typesuch, for instance, as the spiral springsrepresented in the drawings. The springs are attached to or held inplace on the stirrup slats d in any of the usual known ways, and are soformed and arranged that normally their upper ends, on which themattress will rest, stand, say, from an inch and a half to two inchesabove the level of the suspension-ropes D, this, however, depending uponthe strength of the springs and the weight to be supported by them.

The springs may extend throughout the whole area of the bed-bottom, ifdesired; but

in practice it will be found sufficient to have them extend down aboutto the point indicated in the drawings, the remainder of the bedasdescribed, so as to be drawn taut when the bed-frame is unfolded, andbed or mattress sup- I 5 porting springs arranged in the space betweensaid ropes, and supported by stirrups or carriers suspended from saidropes, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 20 hand this 10th day of July, 1883.

ALBERT F. MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

RUFUS G. HALL, CHARLES R. Farmers.

